Essay about Intervention in the Rwandan Genocide - 1892 Words

The Hutus and Tutsis were not traditionally different, and ethnicity in Rwanda only became important during Belgium colonization when the more European-looking Tutsis were chosen as the aristocracy to rule over the Hutus. After Rwandas independence in 1961 the Hutu majority, comprising roughly 85% of the population, ruled the country. Between 1961 and the outbreak of genocide in 1994 many Tutsis fled the regime due to its discriminatory practices and anti-Tutsi policies. Even after gaining control of the country, however, Hutus had been scared of a Tutsi coup or an invasion from the Tutsi refugees in neighboring Uganda. The regime of president Habyarimana played on these fears in order to distract Rwandans from failing policies and†¦show more content†¦Otherwise, such rulers may feel so threatened by the prospect of losing power that they opt for genocide or ethnic cleansing instead.? (Kuperman, p. 106). An example of this was the acceleration of ethnic cleansing and Albania n deportations directly following NATO?s warnings to Milosevic that he and those complicit would be prosecuted for crimes against humanity; sometimes threats, especially ones unlikely to be backed by significant force, can act counterproductively by limiting the regime?s choices and increasing their desperation to retain power, increasing the likelihood that they will resort to desperate measures such as ethnic cleansing. If Milosevic already believed that he would be prosecuted for war crimes, then he has less incentive to avoid measures that violate international law. In order to understand how the Rwandan Hutu regime could have been best dealt with it is important to understand the surrounding circumstances. President Habiyarimana?s regime was losing popularity due in part to unsuccessful economic policy, and his small clique of Hutu extremists was desperate to cling to power. They, as well as other Hutus, were terrified of the notion that Tutsis may come back into power and implement the same kind of Hutu oppression that was experienced during its years as a Belgian colony. Many of the minority Tutsis, feeling threatened by Hutu rule, fled to neighboring Uganda and Burundi, leaving the group to represent only 9% of the RwandanShow MoreRelatedEuropean Intervention and the Rwandan Genocide2151 Words   |  9 Pages Genocide is the destruction of a cultural, racial or political group through the use of â€Å"..one-sided mass killings..(Hintjens 267).† The April of 1994, â€Å"Rwandan subjects and citizens were th e main actors in the genocide (Hintjens 244).† The establishment of colonial rule by the Europeans impacted the conflict in Rwanda due to the creation of ethnic boundaries between the Tutsis and the Hutus. Hierarchies were established based upon European racial theories. ThroughoutRead MoreRwandan Genocide And The Lack Of International Intervention993 Words   |  4 PagesMichelle Jimenez History 2010 November 19, 2015 Crabtree Rwandan Genocide-1994 After the atrocities of the Rwandan Genocide and the lack on international intervention, Rwandan was forced to rebuild itself from scratch. Rwanda is a small country located in central Africa. Its population is divided between two ethnic groups: the hutus and the tutsis. The roots of the Rwandan genocide date back to 1924 when Belgium first took over Rwanda, formally a part of Tanzania. The Belgians viewed Tutsi superiorRead MoreEssay on Human Rights and Intervention in the Rwandan Genocide2925 Words   |  12 PagesHuman Rights and Intervention in the Rwandan Genocide Human rights are known as â€Å"inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled to simply because he or she is a human being†. These rights are known to be universal and are the same to everyone living on earth. These rights are said to exist in both national and international law. The Universal Declaration of Human rights, which is supported by fifty countries across the globe, attests to this definition and backs up theRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide And The Genocide1637 Words   |  7 PagesWith over eight hundred thousand to one million deaths, the Rwandan genocide is undoubtedly one of the most sad and shocking examples of the lack of intervention by not only the US and the UN, but by other countries as well. The ongoing tensions between the Hutu, the largest population in Rwanda, and the Tutsi, the smaller and more elite population is what eventually lead to the Rwandan genocide. The killings began quickly after President Habyarimana s plane was s hot down. After hundreds of thousandsRead MoreThe Rwandan Genocide Began On April 6Th 1994 Culminating1370 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rwandan Genocide began on April 6th 1994 culminating in the killing of an estimated 800,000 Hutus and their sympathizers. After it became apparent that the Rwandan government was not willing or able to protect it s citizens, the question became why did the international community do nothing to intervene. Rwandan citizens’ lived under the premise, that their rights are protected under UN accords and treaties. The Genocide Convention of 1948, outlined the responsibilities of the participatingRead MoreInternational Community Is Culpable For The Rwandan Genocide1376 Words   |  6 PagesApril to June 1994, in a mere 100 days, approximately 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were murdered during the Rwandan genocide (Destexhe, 1994). The international community failed to prevent or stop this slaughter. Considering the horrific nature of this genocide and the vast number of victims, there is a question whether the international community is culpable for the Rwandan genocide; specifically, the role of its key players, the US, the UN, France and Belgium. I will argue that the internationalRead MoreGhosts of Rwanda Essay1374 Words   |  6 PagesRwanda Reflection Does the Genocide in Rwanda have a singular cause? I do not believe so; the cause of genocide in Rwanda in 1994 was due to years of built up hatred between the Tutsis and the Hutus along with many other occurrences. The Rwandan Genocide is no exception with many variables contributing to the horrific events that took place. According to the documentary Ghosts of Rwanda, in 1994, Rwanda experienced a premeditated, systematic and state sponsored genocide with the aim of exterminatingRead MoreHumanitarian Intervention Essay1198 Words   |  5 PagesHumanitarian intervention is the act when states intervene in the affairs of another state because that state is violating the basic human rights of its civilians or because it is in the intervening state’s self interest to get involved. (Humanitarian, 2008) These interventions are not specifically aimed at violating the sovereignty of a state, but rather their purpose is to protect the basic human rights of civilians during civil wars and during crime against humanity. (Humanitarian, 2008) RealismRead MoreHistory, Gender, Racial, And Cultural Heritage Of The American Nation State During The Holocaust1332 Words   |  6 Pagesmeaning of reification through dehumanization and demonization. On April 6, 1994, Hutus began a mass slaughtering of the Tutsis in the African country of Rwanda. This mass slaughtering was labeled as genocide: the deliberate obliteration of an ethnic, racial, religious, or political group. The Rwandan genocide lasted 100 days while other countries stood idly by and watched the brutal killings continue. Accusations from editorials and radio broadcasts claimed the Tutsis wanted to establish a monarchy withRead MoreWhat Was Happening Of Your Town?1094 Words   |  5 Pagesthe disturbing news. It was shocking to learn that some 800,000 people were killed in Rwanda in just hundred days (Rwanda genocide: 100 days of slaughter 2014). I wanted to know why those massive killings took place and why the world did not step in when the genocide was going on. I had to do some more research on the subject and learn about what led to the genocide and the background of it all. The simmering issues in the background Rwanda was a small country in the nineties, and the majority